Genesis Part 3 Week 7

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 45:16-17 

¹⁶ The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan.’” 

When Pharaoh and his palace heard the news about Joseph’s brothers, they were excited. Pharaoh now got involved and began to give directions as to what should occur. He wanted the brothers to load up their animals and hurry back to Canaan. 

REFLECT 

What if the Pharaoh thought differently than Joseph? What kind of predicament would the Hebrews have been in then? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 45:16-23. This passage tells of the other instructions Pharaoh gave Joseph and his brothers. It also reveals what Joseph gave his brothers as he was ready to send them off—continuing to do more for Benjamin than anyone else. He also gave many things to help his father with the trip down to Egypt.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 45:24-25 

²⁴ So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” ²⁵ And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. 

Joseph knew how his brothers quarreled so he warned them not to quarrel on the way home. They may have wanted to blame each other for the predicament they were in, but they should have realized it was for their good.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes blamed others for the difficulty you were in? Did you willingly go into the situation?  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 45:24-28. It was a great announcement sons were able to give their father: “Joseph is still alive!” After his sons told him what Joseph said and Jacob saw the wagons Joseph had sent, his spirits revived. Then he was concerned about going to see Joseph before he died.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 46:1-2 

¹ So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. ² During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. “Here I am,” Jacob replied. 

On his way to Egypt, Jacob received a vision from God. Jacob replied to God’s call of his name and was ready to hear God’s instructions. Beersheba was a familiar place in the lives of the patriarchs. A search of that name will reveal many things occurred there. 

REFLECT 

As you read the Bible, are you quick to do what you believe God is calling you to do? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 46:1-7. God promised to make Jacob a great nation in Egypt. Although Jacob would die in Egypt God promised to bring him back. This would have to do with his remains. Based on these promises Jacob and all his possessions and descendants went down to Egypt.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 46:8 

⁸ These are the names of the descendants of Israel—the sons of Jacob—who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son. 

This begins a series of the names of Jacob’s descendants. Notice again that Reuben was the oldest. He was responsible for the family in the absence of his father. That is why he was especially concerned that when he was absent his brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites (see Genesis 37:27-29).  

REFLECT 

How is it in your family? Are you the oldest? If so, do you feel responsible for your siblings when your mother or father is not around? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 46:8-22. Even though Jacob only had two sons through Rachel, the descendants from their union were fourteen.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 46:23-25 

²³ The son of Dan was Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was seven. 

These verses give the number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah. The larger passage enumerated Jacob’s descendants. This listing was important to the Jewish people. 

REFLECT 

Are you interested in knowing your ancestors? If you were Jewish the listing of these ancestors would be significant.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 46:23-27. This passage ends by saying there were 70 members of Jacob’s family in Egypt. From this group would grow a powerful nation, as God had promised.